--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the self-assertive tendency is the…" description: "\"the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency, the dynamic expression of its partness.\" — Ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg" --- # the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of… ![“the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency, the dynamic expression of its partness.” quote by Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg) > “the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency, the dynamic expression of its partness.” [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The self‑assertive drive reflects a whole’s unity and its parts’ integration. **In simple terms:** Self‑assertion shows wholeness. Key Takeaway Balance unity with individuality. Themes holism self‑assertion integration Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - teamwork - personal development - organizational design Key Concepts systems theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you harmonize part and whole? - When does self‑assertion hinder collaboration? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self can fragment the whole. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assertive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive/) [Assertive Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive-tendency-2918608/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Integrative Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrative-tendency-2918611/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Assertive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assertive-2486589/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) [Tendency Dynamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendency-dynamic-4108059/) [Wholeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholeness/) ## Related quotes > [No man is an island- he is a holon. A Janus-faced entity who, looking inward, sees himself as a self-contained unique whole, looking outward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/no-man-is-an-island-he-is-a-holon-a-janus-faced-entity-who-looking/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/am-i-getting-nobler-better-more-helpful-more-humble-as-i-get-older-am/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Individuality is a real power inherent in all and the development and consequent expression of this power enables one to assume the responsibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/individuality-is-a-real-power-inherent-in-all-and-the-development-and/) [Charles F. Haanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-haanel/) > [It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, "It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem." One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-is-a-mistake-to-look-at-someone-who-is-self-assertive-and-say-it-s/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The integrative tendencies of the individual are incomparably more dangerous than his self-assertive tendencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-integrative-tendencies-of-the-individual-are-incomparably-more/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The word 'seek' means to go in search of, try to discover, try to acquire. It requires an active, assertive approach to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-word-seek-means-to-go-in-search-of-try-to-discover-try-to-acquire/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Out of the closets and into the museums, libraries, architectural monuments, concert halls, bookstores, recording studios and film studios of the world. Everything belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-the-closets-and-into-the-museums-libraries-architectural/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-best-defense-against-usurpatory-government-is-an-assertive/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [I was very shy and withdrawn as a child, but people know me as these assertive women. They are not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-arthur/i-was-very-shy-and-withdrawn-as-a-child-but-people-know-me-as-these/) [Bea Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-arthur/) > [I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-think-naturally-if-you-re-an-actor-there-s-a-high-level-of/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [Arrogance is a mixture of impertinence, disobedience, indiscipline, rudeness, harshness, and a self-assertive nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/arrogance-is-a-mixture-of-impertinence-disobedience-indiscipline/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/being-assertive-in-the-home-does-not-produce-any-smiling-faces-but-it/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Of course you don't want to make outs on the bases , but there are times you have to be assertive in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/of-course-you-don-t-want-to-make-outs-on-the-bases-but-there-are/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/) [Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/) ## More by Arthur Koestler > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The revolutions of thought which shape the basic outlook of an age are not disseminated through text-books- they spread like epidemics, through contamination by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-revolutions-of-thought-which-shape-the-basic-outlook-of-an-age/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of a new insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miraculous flushes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-moment-of-truth-the-sudden-emergence-of-a-new-insight-is-an-act/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Coincidence may be described as the chance encounter of two unrelated causal chains which - miraculously, it seems - merge into a significant event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/coincidence-may-be-described-as-the-chance-encounter-of-two-unrelated/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-more-original-a-discovery-the-more-obvious-it-seems-afterwards/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“Revolutionary theory had frozen to a dogmatic cult, with a simplified, easily graspable catechism, and with No. 1 as the high priest celebrating the Mass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/revolutionary-theory-had-frozen-to-a-dogmatic-cult-with-a-simplified/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Coincidence may be described as the chance encounter of two unrelated causal chains which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/coincidence-may-be-described-as-the-chance-encounter-of-two-unrelated-2/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The more backwoodish a social group, juvenile or adult, the stricter its conception of the normal, and the readier it will ridicule any departure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-more-backwoodish-a-social-group-juvenile-or-adult-the-stricter/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [As modern physics started with the Newtonian revolution, so modern philosophy starts with what one might call the Cartesian Catastrophe. The catastrophe consisted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/as-modern-physics-started-with-the-newtonian-revolution-so-modern/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [If one looks with a cold eye at the mess man has made of history, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/if-one-looks-with-a-cold-eye-at-the-mess-man-has-made-of-history-it/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The ultimate truth is penultimately always a falsehood. He who will be proved right in the end appears to be wrong and harmful before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-ultimate-truth-is-penultimately-always-a-falsehood-he-who-will-be/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The real achievement in discoveries... is seeing an analogy where no one saw one before... The essence of discovery is that unlikely marriage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-real-achievement-in-discoveries-is-seeing-an-analogy-where-no-one/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The jester is brother to the sage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-jester-is-brother-to-the-sage/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) [Explore all 199 Arthur Koestler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## More Assertive quotes > [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/) [Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/) > [Of course you don't want to make outs on the bases , but there are times you have to be assertive in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/of-course-you-don-t-want-to-make-outs-on-the-bases-but-there-are/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/being-assertive-in-the-home-does-not-produce-any-smiling-faces-but-it/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Arrogance is a mixture of impertinence, disobedience, indiscipline, rudeness, harshness, and a self-assertive nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/arrogance-is-a-mixture-of-impertinence-disobedience-indiscipline/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-think-naturally-if-you-re-an-actor-there-s-a-high-level-of/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I was very shy and withdrawn as a child, but people know me as these assertive women. They are not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-arthur/i-was-very-shy-and-withdrawn-as-a-child-but-people-know-me-as-these/) [Bea Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-arthur/) > [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-best-defense-against-usurpatory-government-is-an-assertive/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Out of the closets and into the museums, libraries, architectural monuments, concert halls, bookstores, recording studios and film studios of the world. Everything belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-the-closets-and-into-the-museums-libraries-architectural/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The word 'seek' means to go in search of, try to discover, try to acquire. It requires an active, assertive approach to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-word-seek-means-to-go-in-search-of-try-to-discover-try-to-acquire/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The North American intellectual tradition began, I maintain, in the encounter of British Romanticism with assertive, pragmatic North American English - the Protestant plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-north-american-intellectual-tradition-began-i-maintain-in-the/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm not a very assertive person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-m-not-a-very-assertive-person/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I'm as proud and assertive in my Quebec identity as any Quebecer. I believe it's to Quebec's advantage to be part of the Canadian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-m-as-proud-and-assertive-in-my-quebec-identity-as-any-quebecer-i/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [The person who knows a great deal about things but has never learnt to see, tends to be assertive; those who have once lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-vann/the-person-who-knows-a-great-deal-about-things-but-has-never-learnt/) [Gerald Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-vann/) > [Be assertive, but don't forget to look around. I realized there are other opinions that can be more useful to me than just sticking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/be-assertive-but-don-t-forget-to-look-around-i-realized-there-are/) [Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/) [Browse all 167 Assertive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency, the dynamic expression of its partness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Koestler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynamic-expression-of-the-holon-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assertive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynamic-expression-of-the-holon-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/arthur-koestler-1903_assertive_the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynam_476836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency…” — Arthur Koestler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Koestler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynamic-expression-of-the-holon-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynamic-expression-of-the-holon-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```